Mining apparatus



July 21, 1964 J. A. READ ETAL.

MINING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 1, 1961 Enr/2i() AGENT July Z1, 1964 J. A. READ v..'rA|' v MINING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

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E DN AR EU R O D AM NnC @L /62 GNT July 21, 1964 J. A. READ ETAL MINING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Deo. 1, 19e

INVENTORS: JOHN A. READ MARK A. CHADBOURNE July 21, 1964 .1.A. READ ETAL MINING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. l, 1961 INVENTORS: JOHN A. READ MARK A. CHADBOURNE AGENT July 21, 1964 J. A. READ ETAL 3,141,521

MINING APPARATUS Filed Dec. l, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS: JOHN A. READ MARK A. CHADBOURNE July 21, 1964 .1. A. READ ETAL MINING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec.

INVENTORS! JOHN A. READ K A.CHADBOURNE AGENT United States Patent O 3,141,521 MINING APPARATUS .lohn A. Read and Mark A.. Chadbourne, North Bay, ntario, Canada, assignors to .loy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, la., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Dec. l, i961, Ser. No. 156,283 14 Claims. (Cl. wil- 12) This invention relates to a mining apparatus and more particularly to a raise platform for facilitating the formation of raises in a mineral vein.

The apparatus of this application is an improvement over the device disclosed in copending application Serial No. 68,512, filed November 10, 1960, now abandoned.

In the above mentioned copending application a raise driving apparatus is disclosed having, fully disposed within a main panel entry or underground cavity communieating with a substantially vertical opening or raise, a terminal track section which is pivotably connected to a first section of track bolted to the wall of the raise. These track sections support a platform which is captively movable therealong, to properly position personnel and tools engaged in preparing the upper end of the raise for blasting. Before blasting, the raise platform is moved entirely onto the terminal track section at which time the personnel dismount to the panel entry floor and remove any loose tools and equipment from the platform. A cable, engaging a rotatable pulley supported on the roof of the panel entry, is attached to the lower end portion of the terminal track section and by applying tension to the cable, from any suitable source, the terminal track section together with the platform, is positioned within a protected recess or under the brow of the raise. Upon completion of such positioning the upper end of the raise, which has been prepared for blasting, is extended by detonation of an explosive charge. Thus the falling rocks and debris do not injure the platform positioned under the brow.

The above described structure has certain disadvantages which the device of this invention overcomes. Portions of the structure of this invention are correlated in a novel manner which eliminates the necessity of providing separate power means for positioning the lowermost track section in the panel entry or protective recess. In so doing the device of this invention utilizes power from the elevating motor to actuate a flexible rack located on the lowermost track section. Actuation of the flexible rack causes the lowermost track section to be moved along the spaced horizontal rails secured to the roof of the underground cavity or panel entry. During this maneuver the platform remains in operative orientation thus precluding the necessity of reioving tools and equipment from the platform surface.

Accordingly one object of this invention is to provide a new and improved mining apparatus.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved mining apparatus which utilizes a single power means for elevating and for positioning a raise pltaform in an inoperative position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved mining apparatus having a raise platform which reduces the time required for an operative cycle.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a new and improved raise platform in which the drive mechanism thereof operatively engages a flexible rack which actuates means for moving such platform out of the projected area of an upwardly extended opening.

A further specic object of this invention is to provide a new and improved mining apparatus comprising a raise platform wherein means is provided which, actuated by a platform movable along a vertical or sub- 3,141,521 Patented July 21, 1964 stantially vertical track secured to an upwardly extended opening originating from an underground cavity, conditions the lowermost track section for movement out of alignment with such trackk in response to the position of the platform along such track.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a new and improved mining apparatus for facilitating the formation of vertical orl substantially vertical raises wherein coextensive, horizontal, spaced guide means are securable to the brow of such raise and cooperable with the 4mechanism which transmits motion from the unitary power means to means engageable with such guide means for moving part of such apparatus out of alignment with such raise.

A further specific object of this invention is to provide a new and improved mining apparatus having guide means comprising a series of similar elongated track sections which are securable to the wall of the raise and wherein the lowermost track sections include flexible rack means, engageable with suitable cog wheels, and means for limiting the downward movement of a platform movable along such guide means.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B taken together form a vertical sectional view through an underground cavity and a raise in which is positioned a raise platform constructed according to the principles of this invention with the raise platform shown solid in FIG. 1A in the lowest position to which it can be moved while in FIG. 1B the raise platform is shown in dotted outline in an upper position to which it is raised by the apparatus of this invention; a FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C when assembled by aligning the dashed and dotted lines of the three views form an exploded perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational partially sectional fragmentary View of a portion of the apparatusof FIGS. 1A and 1B.

In FIG. 1A there is shown in vertical section a portion of an underground cavity such as a panel entry 10 having a substantially horizontal ceiling portion 12' and communicating with a vertical or substantially vertical underground opening such as a raise 14. Rigidly secured in parallel relationship with ceiling portion l2, vertically spaced therefrom and supported by elongated support members such as roof bolts 16 and spacing elements 18 is a pair of elongated laterally spaced horizontally disposed channel members 2t) (see FIG. 2C) these channel members are designed to support through sprockets and rollers, to be hereinafter described, a raise platform mechanism constructed according to the principles of this invention. The channel members 20 are characterized by a generally U-shaped cross section having an upper leg portion 2d, a lower leg portion 22 and a bight portion 2l. The lower leg portion 22 receives and supports upon its upper surface a rack 26 of the bar and pin type formed of elongated parallel steel bars rigidly securing a plurality of cylindrical rod elements 28 in a suitable manner to form a sprocket rack in a manner well known in the art. At least -two of the rod velements 28 in each rack 26 are elongated and furnished with a threaded end portion which protrudes through a horizontal slot 30 in the bight portion 221 and is provided with a threaded retaining element such as a nut 32 to secure the rack in longitudinally adjustable relationship with the channel member 20. The rods 28 form tooth engaging means for the aforementioned sprockets drivingly connected with the raise platform. The upper edges of the racks 26 form supporting surfaces for the rollers also hereinbefore mentioned end portions 34 of the lower leg portions 22 are higher than the remainder of the lower leg portions 22 to an extent which brings the upper surface of the end portions 34 on a level and aligned with the top edges of the rack 26 forming an extension thereof to receive the aforementioned rollers. A pair of axially aligned guiderollers 36 (see FIG. 1A) having a diameter slightly less than, but substantially equal to, the distance between the end portions 34 and the upper leg portions 24 are rollingly received between these portions and act as rolling supports for a portion of the apparatus of this invention.

Rigidly secured to a vertical or substantially vertical side surface of the raise 14 is an elongated vertically disposed I-shaped, in cross section, rack type track 38, such as that described in the aforementioned copending application. The track 38 is rigidly secured to and horizontally spaced from the surface 15 by bolts 16 and spacer members ,18 respectively and movably captively support a self propelled raise platform 40 shown in dotted outline in FIG. 1B similar to that described and claimed in the copending application. The raise platform 40 is provided with a suitable motive power means such as an air motor 42 and suitable gearing drivingly connected to a plurality of toothed, vertically spaced, simultaneously rotating, sprockets 44, 46 and 48 respectively. An elongated vertically disposed guide rail 58 having a generally I-shaped cross section similar to that of the track 38 forms a downward extension of the track 38 and captively supports and guides the raise platform 48 when approaching its lowest position. The guide rail 58 is in turn supported by a pair of rearwardly extending formed brackets 52 carried by a pair of toothed sprockets 54 drivingly secured upon a shaft 53 rotatably mounted in a pair of axially aligned bearings 55 being secured to and in alignment with holes in bracket 52. The sprockets 54 being drivingly engaged with and supported by the racks 26 are pivotably connected with the guide rollers 36 by elongated flat spacer elements such as bars 56. The guide rollers 36 are connected by an extensible bracing element or strut 58 to a lower portion of the guide rail 50 to regulate the longitudinal alignment of the guide rail 50 with the track 38. The track 38 is tranversely positioned so that the longitudinal center line of its rack lies in a vertical plane substantially midway between the racks 26.

In this plane, drivingly mounted upon the same shaft as the sprockets 54, is a drive sprocket or gear means 6) (see FIG. 2A). A exible rack means such as a chain 66 is trained about the sprocket 60 and a pair of chain guide elements such as rollers, idler wheels or idler elements 62 and 64 rotatably mounted on upper and lower portions of the guide rail 50, respectively, and cooperable therewith to form a movable rack to engage the sprockets 44, 46 and 48 when the raise platform 48 proceeds downwardly from the rack type track 38 (see FIG. 3). Centrally mounted on a lower portion of the guide rail 58 is a resilient element such as a spring 68 positioned to contact a bottom portion of the raise platform 40 and yieldingly arrest its downward progression. Rigidly secured to the lower end portion of the track 38 on the surface facing the side surface 15 of the raise 14 is a generally U-shaped bracing element 78 having a bight portion 72 and leg portions 74. The leg portions '74 extend normal to the bight portion 72 in a direction away from the track 38 trending downwardly to overlappingly engage the end portions of the outer surfaces 21 of the channel members 2t). The leg portions 74 are removably secured to the channel members 2t) by a pair of threaded retaining elements such as cap screws 76, threadedly engaged in a pair of axially aligned threaded bores 78 in the end portions of the bight portions 2l to establish a fixed relationship between the track 38 and the channel 2t) to maintain an operative disposition between the tracks 38 and the guide rail 50.

A vertically disposed elongated at plate latch support member 80 (best seen in FIG. 3) is slidably secured on a rear surface portion of the guide rail 58 and biased upwardly by a pair of resilient members such as cylindrical compression coil springs 82 suitably secured at their lower ends to the guide rail 58. Mounted at the upper end of the latch support member 88 are two elongated cylindrical rod elements indicated as latch rods 84 which extend upwardly to overlappingly engage the forward surface of the bight portion 72 of the bracing element 7 tl mounted on the rear surface of track 38. These latch rods 84 hold the guide rail in abutting engagement and in longitudinal alignment with the track 38 at any time when the platform 40 is raised above its lowermost position along the guide rail 58 and the track 38. A generally triangular, rearwardly extending, biasing element 86 rigidly secured to a rearward portion of the platform apparatus 4i) overlappingly engages a top portion of the latch support member biasing the latch support member 80, in a downward direction against the force of the springs 82, when the platform device 40 is lowered to its lowermost position on the guide rail 58. This unlatching action allows the guide rail 58 to be moved away from its position Shown in FIG. 3 by actions later to be described.

Since the device of this invention is directed to moving the platform apparatus 40 from the raise 14 into an out of the way position in the panel entry 10, operation of the device will be described beginning with the platform 40 in an upper raised position within the raise 14 as shown in dotted outline in FIG. 1B. The platform device 40 is slidably, captively, secured to the rail 38 and is supported in the elevated position shown in FIG. 1B by the three driving sprockets 44, 46 and 48 engaged with the rack portion of the track 38. The sprockets 44, 46 and 48 are driven by the motor 42 through a self locking worm device so that, unless the driving motor 42 is operated, the sprockets 44, 46 and 48 will not rotate. In this manner the platform 4t) is supported in the upward operating position while personnel standing on the platform 40 operate drills and other tools supported thereby to prepare an upper portion of the raise 14 for blasting by drilling holes and inserting explosive charges as is well known in the art. While the platform apparatus 40 is in the upper position shown in FIG. 1B the guide rail 50 is in the position shown in FIG. 1A except that the latch rods 84 and the latch support member 8i) biased upwardly by the springs 82. are in their uppermost allowable position shown by the broken outline indicated as 84' at the upper end of the latch rods 84. With the latch rods 84 in the upper position overlappingly engaged with the bracing element 78 the guide rail 50 is secured in abutting engagement and longitudinal alignment with the track 38 which engagement occurs along an oblique mating surface 88 at the lower end of the track 38. When the preparations for blasting have been completed the motor 42 is operated to revolve the drive sprockets 44, 46 and 48 in a clockwise direction which controllably lowers the platform apparatus 40 toward the position shown in solid outline in FIG. 1A. When the lowermost sprocket 48 proceeds downwardly off the end of the track 38 it is momentarily disengaged, the platform 48 being at this time supported by the sprockets 44 and 46. Further lowering of the platform 48 brings the lowermost sprocket into engagement with the chain 66 which is suitably positioned by means, hereinafter to be described, to engage the sprocket 46 in a manner enabling it to take up part of the load of platform 40 immediately upon engagement with the chain 66. Further downward progress of the platform 48 causes the drive sprockets 46 and 44 to make the same transition from the track 38 to the chain 66 as has been described for the sprocket 48. It will be noted that provision of the three sprockets 44, 46 and 48 insures two sprocket support of the platform 40 at all times and in all positions of the platform. When the platform 48 reaches a position slightly above the lowermost position shown in solid outline in FIG. 1A the biasing element 86 engages a top edge portion of the latch support element 80 and biases it downwardly as the platform 46 continues its downward motion. As the platform 40 approaches its lowermost position the bottom element of the platform 40 engages the upper end of the spring 68 which resiliently yields to bring the platform 40 to a cushioned stop at rest in the position shown solid in FIG. 1A. With the platform 40 in its rest position the drive sprockets 44, 46 and 48 continuing to rotate drive the chain 66 in a counterclockwise direction along with the drive sprocket 66 and the guide sprockets 54 (see FIG. 2A). The guide sprockets S4 being engaged with the rack 26 move the platform in a horizontal direction to the left as viewed in FIG. 1A and move the platform into the position shown in dotted outline in FIG. lA where it is out of alignment with the raise 14 and cornpletely protected from the blasting and its after effects by the ceiling surface l2 of the panel entry 1). After the blasting operation has taken place the motor 42 is again activated this time rotating the sprockets 44, 46 and 48 in a counterclockwise direction so that the action hereinabove described is reversed and the platform 40 is moved to the right in FIG. lA from the position shown in dotted outline to that shown in solid outline. When the platform reaches the position shown in solid outline the guide rail 59 will be in abutting engagement and longitudinal alignment with the track 38. Continued rotation of the drive sprockets 44, 46 and 48 will raise the platform 40 along the chain 66 since the chain 66 can no longer rotate in the clockwise direction because the drive sprocket 66 is prevented from further rotation by the abutting contact along the oblique face SS of the track 33. The sprockets 44, 46 and 48 continuing to rotate in a counterclockwise direction with the sprockets 44, 46 and 43 bypassing the gap between the chain 66 and the track 38 in the manner hereinbefore described continuing t'ne upward travel of the platform 40 along the track 38 until it reaches an operative positio-n such as that shown in FIG. 1B. It isA to be appreciated that additional sections of track 3S similarto the track 38 are added to carry the platform 4) upward into a new operating position necessitated by extensions of the raise 14 by the blasting operation just described.

Positioning of the chain 66 in relation to the track 3S must be such that the simultaneously revolving sprockets 48 and 44 can drivingly engage the chain 66 and the rack of tracks 38, respectively, at the same time. Such positioning of the chain 66 is accomplished by longitudinally sliding the racks 26 in their respective channel members 20. If the tooth engaging spaces in chain 66 are too near the end of the track 38 the racks 26 must be adjusted horizontally, longitudinally away from the track 38 so that the sprockets 54 and 60 will be rotated in a clockwise direction. Clockwise rotation of the sprockets 54 and 6@ will adjust the spaces of chain 66 downward as required. Adjustment of the racks 26 toward the track 38 will raise the spaces of chain 66 to accomplish the opposite type of adjustment. For best operation of this device, the chain 66 is adjusted so that the spaces in chain 66 are s higher than dictated by perfect unloaded sprocket engagement so that when Stress due to the weight of platform 40 is applied downwardly to the chain 66, resultant stretching of the chain and distortion of the sprockets 54 and 60 will not prevent the chain 66 from assuming a proportionate part of the load. The above described longitudinal adjustment of the racks 26 is accomplished by loosening the nuts 32 and sliding the rod elements 28 in the slots 30 until the spaces in chain 66 are slightly below the desired position. To raise the spaces in chain 66 to the above described position, the racks 26 are moved toward the track 88 by suitable adjustment of a set screw 90 and lock nut 92 (see FIG. lA) threadedly engaged with each channel 21 and abuttingly engaged with each rack 26, respectively. The nuts 32 are then tightened to secure the racks 26 in this adjusted position.

It is to be noted that the bracing element 70 is pivotably connected to the channel members 20 so that the angle formed by the channel members 20 and the track 38 can be varied to accommodate oblique raises as well as vertical raises hereinbefore described.

It is further to be noted that the bracing element 58 is adjustable in length so that the guide rail 50 can be adjusted into longitudinal alignment with the track 38 even though the track 48 is obliquely positioned by being mounted in an obliquely inclined raise. A floor portion 41 of the platform device 46 is also adjustable by means described in the above cited copending application so that it may be maintained in a horizontal position regardless of the oblique positioning of the guide rails 56.

The advantages of the device of the present invention will be obvious when it is considered that a unitary power source such as a motor 42 is being applied to all of the motions necessitated by the positioning of the platform first upward within the raise and later downward and transversely into the protected position Within the panel entry. Such motion supplied and controlled by a single power source is the primary object of this invention. It will be noted that a floor portion 4l of the platform device 40 is maintained in a level position throughout all of the operations described, thus obviating any necessity for removing loose tools or other useful objects resting upon the floor surface 41 when the platform device 40 is moved int-o its protected position within the panel entry 10.

Having described a preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be realized that variations therein may be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of this invention. Accordingly it is respectfully requested that this invention be interpreted as broadly as possible and be limited only by the prior art.

What is claimed is:

l. In an apparatus for positioning a raise platform which is movable along an elongatable track secured to the wall of an upwardly extending opening which intersects an underground cavity comprising, rail means secured to the roof of such cavity and being in operative alignment with such track, platform support means suspended from and movably connected to said rail means, and selectively operable power means secured to such platform for moving said support means in said cavity into and out of the projected area of such upwardly extending opening and for moving such platform in opposite directions along such elongatable track.

2. In an apparatus for positioning a raise platform which is movable along an elongatable track secured to the wall of an upwardly extending opening which intersects an underground cavity comprising, rail means secured to the roof of such cavity and being in operative alignment with such track, platform support means suspended from and movably connected to said rail means, selectively operable power means secured to such platform for moving said support means along said rail means in said cavity into and out of the projected area of such upwardly extending opening and for moving such platform in opposite directions along such elongatable track, and means for adjusting said platform means relative to said rail means when such apparatus is positioned to form oblique raises.

3. In an apparatus for positioning a raise platform which is movable along an elongatable track secured to the wall of an upwardly extending opening which intersects an underground cavity comprising, spaced rail means secured to the roof of such cavity and being in operative alignment with such track, said rail means being located substantially equidistant from the longitudinal median of such track means, a guide rail portion alignable with such track and being bodily movable along said rail means, platform support means positionable on said guide rail portion, and selectively operable power means secured to such platform for moving said support means along said rail means in said cavity in order to position said support out of the projected area of such upwardly extending opening and for moving such platform in opposite directions along such elongatable track.

4. A mining apparatus for facilitating the formation of an upwardly extending opening which initiates from an underground panel entry comprising, elongated sectional guide means securable to the wall of such opening in longitudinal abutting relation, support means captively movable along said guide means, power means on said support means for moving said support means along said guide means, other guide means in longitudinal alignment with said first mentioned guide means and extending within such panel entry, said other guide means supporting said support means, means securable to the roof of such panel entry and in operative alignment with said other guide means for positioning said other guide means and said support means laterally of such upwardly extending opening, and cooperable means connecting said other guide means and said means secured to thereof of such panel entry for moving said other guide means and said support means laterally of such opening.

5. A mechanism for selectively moving a` member in different directions along a fixed path, a stationary support means, an elongated support suspended from said stationary support means and being transversely bodily movable relative thereto, another support means rectilinearly slidably mounted on said elongated support, means connected to said stationary support means and to said elongated support for causing relative bodily movement therebetween, and selectively operable power means on said another support means for causing rectilinear slidable movement of said another support means relative to said elongated support and for causing transverse bodily movement of said elongated support relative to said stationary support means. Y i

6. A mechanism for selectively moving a support in different directions, a stationary support means, an elongated support suspended from said stationary support means and being transversely bodily movable relative thereto, another support rectilinearly slidably mounted on said elongated support, means connected to said stationary support means and to said elongated support for causing relative bodily movement therebetween, and selectively operable power means on said another support for causing rectilinear slidable movement of said another support relative to said elongated support and for causing transverse bodily movement of said elongated support relative to said stationary support means.

7. A mining apparatus for facilitating the formation of an upwardly extending opening which initiates from an underground panel entry comprising, elongated sectional guide means securable to the wall of such opening in longitudinal abutting relation, support means captively movable along said guide means, power means on said support means for moving said support means along said guide means, other guide means in longitudinal abutting alignment with said first mentioned guide means and extending entirely within such panel entry, said other guide means being of sufficient length to entirely support said support means thereon, cooperable means operatively connected to said other guide means and to said power means, means securable to the roof of such panel entry and in operative alignment with said other guide means and operatively connected to said cooperable means for positioning said support means in a position laterally of such upwardly extending opening.

8. A mechanism for positioning a raise platform in an underground cavity which intersects an upwardly extending opening wherein such platform is movable along an elongatable guide means secured to the wall of such opening comprising, elongated laterally spaced supports being secured .to the roof of said cavity, rack means on said supports respectively, a shaft having sprockets secured thereto being in meshing engagement with said rack means respectively, elongated guide means having bearing portions at one end thereof, said shaft being disposed in said bearing portions in order to suspend said guide means in such cavity from said supports, gear means secured to said shaft and disposed between said bearing portions, said guide means having an elongated channel and rotatable idler elements being coplanar with said gear means, an endless exible rack disposed about said gear means, in said channel, and about said rotatable idler elements, and power means for circulating said exible rack for causing rotation of said shaft and said sprockets in order to move said guide means relative to said supports.

9. A mechanism for positioning a raise platform in an underground cavity which intersects an upwardly extending opening wherein such platform is movable along an elongatable guide means secured to the wall of such opening comprising, elongated laterally spaced U-shaped supports being secured to the roof of said cavity, rack means on said supports respectively, a shaft having sprockets secured thereto being in meshing engagement with said rack means respectively, elongated guide means having bearing portions at one end thereof, said shaft being disposed in said bearing portions in order to suspend said guide means in such cavity from said supports, gear means secured to said shaft and disposed between said bearing portions, a platform member captively slidably secured to said elongated guide means, locking means operatively connected to said guide means and being operable by movement of said platform to and from a limiting position, said guide means having an elongated channel and rotatable idler elements being coplanar with said gear means, an endless flexible rack disposed about said gear means, in said channel, and about said rotatable idler elements, and power means on said platform member for circulating said flexible rack for causing rotation of said shaft and said sprockets in order to bodily move said guide means and said platform member relative to said supports.

l0. A mechanism for positioning a raise platform in an underground cavity which intersects an upwardly extending opening wherein such platform is movable along an elongatable guide means secured to the wall of such opening comprising, elongated laterally spaced supports being secured to the roof of said cavity, rack means on said supports respectively, a shaft having sprockets secured thereto which are in meshing engagement with said rack means respectively, elongated guide means having bearing portions at one end thereof, said shaft being rotatably disposed in said bearing portions in order to suspend said guide means in such cavity from said supports, gear means secured to said shaft and disposed between said bearing portions, said guide means having an elongated channel and a rotatable idler element being coplanar with said gear means, an elongatable supporting strut pivotally secured to said guide means and to said shaft with the end portion of said strut adjacent said shaft having spaced rollers in rolling engagement with said rack means respectively, an endless sprocket chain in meshing engagement with said gear means, in said channel, and about said rotatable idler element, and power means for circulating said flexible rack for causing rotation of said shaft and said sprockets in order to move said guide means relative to said supports.

ll. A mechanism for moving an apparatus adapted to facilitate the formation of substantially vertical underground raises initiating from a substantially horizontal entry comprising, spaced rails secured to the roof of such entry with respective ends thereof being closely adjacent a peripheral portion of such raise, an elongated sectional guide rail secured to the wall of such raise and located in a vertical plane which lies intermediate said spaced rails, a shaft having sprockets secured adjacent the ends thereof and being in contact with respective portions of said rails, another sprocket secured to said shaft, an elongated rail section lOCatable in alignment With said elongated sectional guide rail and supported by said shaft, said elongated rail section being located in such horizontal entry, a guide channel n said elongated rail section, idler wheels rotatably secured to said elongated guide rail section for rotation in a plane containing said guide channel, an endless sprocket chain trained about said idler wheels and said another sprocket and movably disposed in said guide channel, a platform having a portion thereof movably captively secured to said elongated sectional guide rail and said elongated rail section, said platform including power means having tandem output sprockets meshingly engageable with said sprocket chain, and means for actuating said power means to cause rotation of said output sprockets to cause consequent circulation of said chain in order to rotate said shaft so that said elongated rail section and said platform are movable along said spaced rails.

l2. A mining apparatus for facilitating the formation of an upwardly extending opening which initiates from an underground panel entry comprising, elongated sectional guide means securable to the wall of such opening in longitudinal abutting relation, support means captively movable along said guide means, power means on said support means for moving said support means along said guide means, other guide means longitudinally operatively alignable with said first mentioned guide means and eX- tending entirely Within such panel entry, said other guide means being of suflicient length to entirely support said support means thereon, laterally spaced track members securable to the roof of such panel entry adjacent the wall of such opening and in operative alignment with said other guide means for permitting said support means and said other guide means to be movable laterally of such upwardly extending opening, and cooperable means connecting said other guide means and said track members for moving said support means and said other guide means along said track members.

13. A mechanism for selectively moving a member in different directions, a stationary support means, a movable support suspended from said stationary support means and being bodily movable relative thereto, another support mounted for slidable movement along said movable support, means connected to said stationary support and to said movable support for permitting relative bodily movement therebetween, and selectively operable power means on said another support for causing rectilinear slidable movement of said another support relative to said movable support and for causing bodily movement of said movable support relative to said stationary support.

14. A mechanism for moving an apparatus adapted to facilitate the formation of substantially vertical underground raises initiating from a substantially horizontal entry comprising, spaced rails secured to the roof of such entry with respective ends thereof being closely adjacent the brow of such raise, an elongated sectional guide rail secured to the wall of such raise and located in a vertical plane which lies intermediate said spaced rails, a shaft having sprockets secured adjacent the ends thereof in contact with respective portions of said rails, another sprocket secured to said shaft, an elongated rail section locatable in alignment with said elongated sectional guide rail and supported by said shaft7 said elongated rail section being located in such horizontal entry, a guide channel on said elongated rail section, idler wheels rotatably secured to said elongated guide rail section for rotation in a plane containing said guide channel, an endless sprocket chain trained about said idler wheels and said another sprocket and movably disposed in said guide channel, a platform having a portion thereof movably captively secured to said elongated sectional guide rail and said elongated rail section, spring biased stop means on said elongated rail section abuttingly engageable with the lower end portion of said platform for gradually reducing and stopping the downward movement of said platform, said platform including power means having tandem output sprockets meshingly engageable with said sprocket chain, and means for actuating said power means to cause rotation of said output sprockets and consequent circulation of said chain in order to rotate said shaft so that said elongated rail section and said platform are movable along said spaced rails.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 633,215 Poulson Sept. 19, 1899 2,857,060 Carroll Oct. 21, 1958 3,016,989 Lindmark Ian. 16, 1962 

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING A RAISE PLATFORM WHICH IS MOVABLE ALONG AN ELONGATED TRACK SECURED TO THE WALL OF AN UPWARDLY EXTENDING OPENING WHICH INTERSECTS AN UNDERGROUND CAVITY COMPRISING, RAIL MEANS SECURED TO THE ROOF OF SUCH CAVITY AND BEING IN OPERATIVE ALIGNMENT WITH SUCH TRACK, PLATFORM SUPPORT MEANS SUSPENDED FROM AND MOVABLY CONNECTED TO SAID RAIL MEANS, AND SELECTIVELY OPERABLE POWER MEANS SECURED TO SUCH PLATFORM FOR MOVING SAID SUPPORT MEANS IN SAID CAVITY INTO AND OUT OF THE PROJECTED AREA OF SUCH UPWARDLY EXTENDING OPENING AND FOR MOVING SUCH PLATFORM IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS ALONG SUCH ELONGATABLE TRACK. 